Typical Family Session Posing Workflow

In this blog post, I will go over my typical family session posing workflow. While no two sessions are exactly identical, this will help you to get an idea of what poses you can expect to get in a typical gallery from your family session. I'm Sarah Marchwiany a family photographer in Greensboro, NC. I always start with the whole family standing together in hopes to get that perfect everyone looking at the camera and smiling photo. After I get that, I will ask everyone to look at each other and say something silly to get everyone to laugh or have Mom and Dad kiss.

Next, I will get some shots of the kids together. Looking at the camera, looking at the camera, hugging/kissing, squishing their cheeks next to each other.

two brothers standing next to each other for family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
two brothers hugging during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
two brothers looking at each other during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC

I get some individual shots of each kids. I try to get some smiling and then some that are either silly or show their personality. I also typically try to get a full body, waist up, and then a closer shot of their face.

child portrait photography at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
boy smiling in front of fence during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
boy holding on to fence during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
boy smiling during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
boy sticking out his tongue during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
boy making a silly face during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC

I get some of the parents with each child. It's nice to have those individual shots with kids if the parents want to share them to social media for their birthday or any other special event in their life.

boy smiling with his mom during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
boy standing with him mom during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
boy looking at his mom during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
mother and son looking at each other and smiling
mother and son hugging and smiling
mother and son holding hands
mother and son hugging during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
son holding on to moms leg and looking at her
son holding on to moms leg and smiling
father and son smiling
father smiling while son looks up at him
father and son looking at each other at family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
father and son pictures at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
father and son hugging at family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
father and son smiling while hugging

I also try to find a spot they can sit on either bench, stairs, or any sort of ledge. To get some sitting and variety of backgrounds.

family sitting on rock wall smiling
couple sitting on a bench at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
family sitting on a bench during family portraits at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC

I save the parents for last. I want to get all of the photos of the kids first since they typically have a harder time focusing for a longer period of time. Some parents will say they only need pictures as a family or of the kids, but just get the picture! How often do the parents get a nice photo of themselves.

couple smiling at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
Couple kissing at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
couple looking at each other at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
couple hugging at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC
couple hugging while husband kisses wife's head
couple looking at each other hugging at Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, NC

These kids were super well-behaved, so I didn't need to do many other prompts to keep their attention. Usually with smaller kids that don't have the attention span to look and the camera for an entire session, I will play little games like ring around the Rosie, run and hug mom and dad, have the parents tickle them, etc. I would love to take family portraits of you and your family. If you are interested click below to book a session.

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